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Written by Beth Andrews for “Deeper Roots”   @  https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com/2024/12/29/dont-settle-for-anything-less-than-jesus/

Don’t Settle for Anything Less than Jesus

Posted on December 29, 2024 by Beth Andrews

With ten years of schooling, it feels like I live with my head in a book – and I do for the most part, but all study and no play makes me slightly crazy, so I have a “color-by-number” app on my phone that I play to break up the monotony of studying. It feeds my creative cravings and allows me to create something pretty. Plus, it is easy on my brain. Last night I was working on a picture that featured a lot of jewelry. As I added in the colors for the “gold” I noticed that the yellows and oranges were drab compared to the real thing. They did not have the metallic shine of genuine gold. The same was true for the colors used for the gemstones – they were dull compared to real rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. They fell far short of what they represented.

That’s what so many people count on in life – substitute colors for the genuine thing – for Jesus. Faith that is not rooted and established in Jesus Christ is just as dull and lifeless as those flat colors on the screen.

Biblical scholar Dr. Irwin Lutzer says that true faith is three-fold. “First it involves knowledge, the fact of Jesus’ death for sinners. Second, it means we assent to the truths of salvation; finally, it involves trust, the transferring of all of our confidence to Christ alone.”[1]

You and I don’t just need a belief system, we need faith – saving faith.

Saving faith recognizes our need for a Savior, confesses that Jesus’ death secured our salvation, and believes that through God’s grace we are forever redeemed and set free. Many get to the first stage and most also reach the second. But few will go beyond knowledge and grab hold of trust.

Faith means surrendering your whole being through trust in Jesus Christ. It is radical and extraordinary and if it doesn’t transform your life, it’s probably not saving faith.

I grew up on Bible story soundbites and I knew about God and Jesus, but God had to lead me to saving faith in Christ some forty years ago and I’ve never looked back. Mind you, I’m still growing and learning to trust Him more and more. He’s proven faithful and true every single day. Beloved put your faith in the real deal – trust your life to Jesus Christ.

[1] Erwin Lutzer, The Doctrines That Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians, (Grand Rapids, Kregel, 1998), 99.

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P.S. (from bruce)  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=fff805f43cc79d79&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1112US1112&q=image+eph+2:8-9&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J7pRxUp2pI1mXV9fBsfh39JqJxzRlphkmT2MeVSzs3MQCUNkeUaVjRp3Bu8J5s0UhhW9p8XBQ4OgSxaZFuzMRIHm1YH1fcYQUvvrISxlCv9Km7C6ufW8zILU3_5Nhj-Vo4qKzb5wi7QUQvpxDIQTbaNzipXoYS-g5hS9YBSIbVVrGMsj-g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihqd6vyM-KAxUilokEHbLOG2gQtKgLegQIEhAB&cshid=1735564221479256&biw=1356&bih=887&dpr=1#vhid=errn1xBmmsIWyM&vssid=mosaic